Ben Simmons is returning to the NBA after agreeing to a contract with the Sacramento Kings for the 2026-27 season.
The former No. 1 overall pick will attempt to restart his NBA career in Sacramento after sitting out the entire 2025-26 season.
So, how much will Ben Simmons earn with the Sacramento Kings?
Simmons agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Kings. The deal is a veteran-minimum contract that will make him an unrestricted free agent again following the 2026-27 season.
The contract represents a significant change from the massive salaries Simmons earned earlier in his NBA career.
Here is everything to know about Ben Simmons’ Kings contract, salary and how much Sacramento will pay him.
How Much Will Ben Simmons Earn With the Sacramento Kings?
Ben Simmons will earn approximately $3.5 million with the Sacramento Kings during the 2026-27 NBA season.
Simmons agreed to a one-year veteran-minimum contract with Sacramento in September 2026.
Here are the key details of the deal:
| Ben Simmons Kings Contract | Details |
|---|---|
| Team | Sacramento Kings |
| Contract Length | 1 year |
| Contract Value | Approximately $3.5 million |
| 2026-27 Salary | Approximately $3.5 million |
| Contract Type | Veteran minimum |
| Free Agency | 2027 |
The agreement gives Simmons another opportunity to establish himself as a productive NBA player while giving Sacramento a relatively low-cost addition to its roster.
What Is Ben Simmons’ Kings Salary?
Ben Simmons’ 2026-27 salary is approximately $3.5 million.
The amount is determined by the NBA’s veteran-minimum salary scale, with Simmons qualifying for a higher minimum salary because of his years of NBA experience.
However, Sacramento’s salary-cap charge is lower than the amount Simmons actually receives.
Under the NBA’s veteran-minimum rules, the Kings are expected to carry a cap charge of approximately $2.45 million for Simmons.
That means Simmons can receive approximately $3.5 million while Sacramento receives some salary-cap relief associated with signing an experienced player to a minimum contract.
How Long Is Ben Simmons’ Contract With the Kings?
Ben Simmons’ contract with the Sacramento Kings is for one season.
The deal covers the entire 2026-27 NBA season and does not lock either Simmons or Sacramento into a long-term commitment.
Simmons is therefore positioned to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
If he performs well with the Kings, the season could give Simmons an opportunity to pursue another NBA contract next summer.
Why Did Ben Simmons Sign With the Kings?
The Sacramento deal gives Simmons an opportunity to return to the NBA after spending the entire 2025-26 season away from the league.
Simmons last played during the 2024-25 NBA season.
Sacramento is taking a relatively low financial risk by signing Simmons to a veteran-minimum contract.
At his best, Simmons has demonstrated an unusual combination of size, passing, rebounding and defensive versatility.
The major question entering the 2026-27 season will be how much of that ability Simmons can recapture after his extended absence.
How Much Did Ben Simmons Make on His Previous Contract?
Simmons’ new Kings salary is dramatically lower than what he earned under his previous NBA contract.
Simmons signed a five-year maximum contract extension worth approximately $177 million with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019.
That contract eventually followed him through trades during the later stages of his career.
During the final season of the deal, Simmons earned more than $40 million in salary.
His approximately $3.5 million Kings contract therefore represents a reduction of more than 90% compared with his salary during the final year of his previous contract.
Ben Simmons Career Earnings
Despite accepting a veteran-minimum contract with Sacramento, Simmons has already earned well over $200 million in NBA salary during his career.
His largest earnings came from the five-year maximum extension he originally signed with Philadelphia.
Simmons entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, which also provided him with a lucrative rookie-scale contract before his maximum extension began.
The Kings contract represents a different stage of his career, with Simmons now attempting to prove he can still contribute to an NBA team.
When Did Ben Simmons Last Play in the NBA?
Simmons last appeared in an NBA game during the 2024-25 season.
He spent portions of that season with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers before becoming a free agent.
Simmons did not play during the entire 2025-26 NBA season.
His return with Sacramento will therefore mark his first NBA action in more than a year.
How Old Is Ben Simmons?
Ben Simmons is 30 years old entering the 2026-27 NBA season.
He was born on July 20, 1996.
Despite having been in the NBA for a decade, Simmons is still young enough to potentially extend his career if he can remain healthy and carve out a consistent role with Sacramento.
His one-year Kings contract gives him an opportunity to demonstrate that he can still be an effective NBA player.
Ben Simmons Kings Contract FAQ
How much is Ben Simmons making with the Kings?
Ben Simmons will earn approximately $3.5 million during the 2026-27 NBA season under his one-year contract with Sacramento.
How long is Ben Simmons’ Kings contract?
Simmons signed a one-year contract covering the 2026-27 season.
Is Ben Simmons on a minimum contract?
Yes. Simmons’ deal with Sacramento is a veteran-minimum contract.
What is Ben Simmons’ salary-cap hit?
Sacramento’s cap charge for Simmons is expected to be approximately $2.45 million, despite Simmons receiving approximately $3.5 million in salary.
When will Ben Simmons become a free agent?
Simmons is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027 after completing his one-year contract with Sacramento.
Ben Simmons Gets Another NBA Opportunity
The Sacramento Kings are giving Ben Simmons an opportunity to resume his NBA career without making a major long-term financial commitment.
Simmons will earn approximately $3.5 million on his one-year contract during the 2026-27 season.
For Simmons, the season represents an opportunity to prove that the former All-Star can still contribute at the NBA level.
For Sacramento, the veteran-minimum deal limits the financial risk while adding a player who was once considered one of the NBA’s most versatile young stars.
How Simmons performs during the 2026-27 season could ultimately determine whether his return to Sacramento leads to another NBA contract in 2027.